A question for those who show

L

littlen

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 August 2006
Messages
830
Visit site
Just looking for opinions following a discussion with another livery :)


My horse has been out of work for over a month now, and has been having a lazy time for longer than that following a bad fight with another horse and him dropping quite abit of weight. He was turned away and just left alone for most of it, maybe the odd hack out but thats it. He has gained quite abit of weight, but has lost quite abit of topline (not that he had much to start with :shame:) He also has the odd mark where he was bitten (not a wound, just where the hair hasnt grown back) I was hoping to cover these up with some chalk or white makeup though, the skin is not broken in any way.

I am showing friends welsh this weekend and planned to take mine but dropped out when he became broken. Now though he is full of beans and is looking much better and I am concidering taking him again just for the day out and maybe to enter one or two classes. I really want to show 'properly' next year but I have been trying to get him out and about to try and settle him as he is very excitable and I wanted to get him to as many things as possible to get him used to travelling and the atmosphere.
I am not bothered about coming last, but I am worried incase people think I am wrong for taking him out.

So,
Would you ever concider taking a horse out to a show that wasnt 100% show condition?
Would I be laughed off the show ground!?
 
Take him!

If people laugh at you, they're small people and they suck - he's YOUR boy, YOU know the situation, and it'd be great for him!

You should take him to the show I'm going to, I'll be the owner being dragged along the ground head first by her foal.....!! They wont even notice you ;)

Seriously though, take him. if you dont care about coming last, then definitely take him!
 
I would take him, its all good experience at the end of the day. You wouldnt be laughed out, trust me i have seen some horses in shows looking in a bad way much worse than just lacking topline ect.

Just go along and enjoy the day, and you never know he may surprise you
 
There must be some local shows about... as long as you don't mind not winning, loads of people do this... I wouldn't turn up at a HOYS qualifier or COunty show if I was you but local riding club stuff you'll be fine.

Blitz
 
We are considering taking our mare to all the shows with our other mare (who is in top condition) once she's sound - she's unfit, has no topline, but her weight has stayed the same (a really good sound weight) as she's suffered with lami this summer and there's another unknown cause of lameness :( Once she's sound again and coming back into work, I might stick her in an in-hand class, purely for the experience of being in a ring with other horses - not to hope to get placed! Most of the time I will just lunge her or hack her round the rings and get her settled on the showground again.
Like you, I want to start showing again properly next year when she is back in work fully but she needs that bit of experience now :)

P.S it's a nice day out too!! :)
 
Any shows I go to would be local level, people still take them verrry seriously here though!

I am most bothered about getting him some experience ready for next year. I will proberbly turn him away over winter anyway and get his weight up and start building his topline but I dont want to push him too much this summer as he has just recovered!
I just wanted to take him for the experience but I was worried what people might think.
He is not a rspca case or anything, but he is noticeably leaner than 90% of horses at the shows I go too and I will stick out like a sore thumb I think.



It would be nice to get a rosette ;) but I am not bothered about not winning. I just want to get him used to warm up rings/show ground etc!
 
Dw about it! :)
Like someone up there said, only you know the situation, and if anyone does approach you, you can tell them you're there to get the experience ready for next year :)
You never know, he might surprise you ;)
Lots of people do it though and local shows are taken very seriously near me too :P Sometimes its nice to go to a show and not have the pressure of actually going in the ring looking to be placed.
You could always do an in-hand novelty class purely for the showring experience? Then it's all just a bit of fun :)
 
KellysHeroes said:
Dw about it! :)
Like someone up there said, only you know the situation, and if anyone does approach you, you can tell them you're there to get the experience ready for next year :)
You never know, he might surprise you ;)
Lots of people do it though and local shows are taken very seriously near me too :P Sometimes its nice to go to a show and not have the pressure of actually going in the ring looking to be placed.
You could always do an in-hand novelty class purely for the showring experience? Then it's all just a bit of fun :)
Click to expand...

Looking at the schedule the only classes I could do would be
Tack and Turnout
Best combination
Foreign breeds in hand
Riding class
Clear round jumping

My horse is a purebred arab so I was thinkng tack and turnout would be my best bet?

Foreign breeds will be full of very serious fresian owners (no offence freisan owners but it always is ;))
Im not sure what best combination entails?
I dont fancy the riding class since horse hasnt been schooled for months and carries his head in the clouds.
Jumping...Just no!!
 
Think maybe a riding class would send him over the edge? :P
Find out what best combination means it might be the easiest class! :D
Tack and turnout sounds good, like you said you're not looking to win, but will do you both the world of good after a long recovery to get back in the ring with other horses and riders and get you both back into focus for what you need to do :)

No pressure, could you even decide on the day and enter when you get there, depending on what mood your neddy's in??
If nothing else it will be a good day out and a change of scenery! ;)
 
Take him, even if you don't do a class, it will be good for him and get him use to it for when you want to properly go out next year :)

The local shows I've been to, lots of people bring youngsters or oldies or other ponies for the experience/a day trip/get them out of the yard sort of thing. They may enter a class or 2 or might just bring them along for the ride, which I think is really nice.

Go have fun :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top